NFL DRAFT ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

The NFL Draft is personally one of my favorite events of the year. As a fan, it's a time when I have the most hope for my team as we are undefeated and have the potential to add the next superstar to our roster… Or potentially be a franchise-altering bust. (Thanks, Zach Wilson.) The draft offers hope for the future as every NFL team has the opportunity to significantly bolster its roster.

Before the draft, we carefully analyze and consider our favorite players for our team while also predicting the potential landing spot for each player. As the draft progresses, we eagerly await each pick, cheering when a desired player is selected and booing when they are not.

Continue scrolling to read our opinions and grades for the first round of the draft. 👇

1. Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The Panthers take their new franchise quarterback and consensus top signal-caller in the draft in Bryce Young. While concerns exist about his height (listed as 5-foot-10), Young has widely been considered the best passer and decision-maker in this class.

This is a team that went 7-10 last season despite starting the likes of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker under center. Don’t sleep on Carolina in a weak NFC South, especially with Tom Brady now retired. - FRANK AMMIRANTE

Grade: B

NFL Draft Futures Bet: Panthers to win the NFC South (+350)

2. Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The Texans avoid the temptation to take Will Anderson or trade down to fill a glaring need. The polished Stroud boasts a sound football IQ and should steady the rebuilding offense.

Houston has addressed its most important issue on the road to respectability. Stroud may have his ups and downs over the first year or two in the NFL, but he should eventually settle in as a solid starter.

This marks a safe and sensible selection as possible with an eye on eventual contention. - SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: B-

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3. Texans (from ARI): Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

Mere seconds after drafting their quarterback of the future, the Texans moved up nine spots in a trade to select a game-wrecking defensive player. Anderson, the two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner and national champion, finished with 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss during three seasons in Tuscaloosa.

He’s fast, has a long reach, and should make an immediate impact for a needy defense in Houston that finished tied for 20th in sacks (39) in 2022. – PAT PICKENS

Grade: A

4. Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

With comparisons ranging from Cam Newton to Tyrod Taylor, Richardson ranks as a starkly polarizing name. The former Gator boasts plenty of ideal measurables, though, and his style almost perfectly fits new head coach Shane Steichen’s offense that brought out the best in Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.

Richardson’s arm strength should augment the game of Michael Pittman Jr. and Co., and his mobility should scare defenses that also will have to tend to RB Jonathan Taylor. This grade would be higher if we’re solely leaning on ceiling. - TIM HEANEY

Grade: B-

5. Seahawks (from DEN): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Seahawks do not go with edge rusher or defensive tackle, as team brass has often discussed taking best available player over need. There may be visions of Legion of Boom 2.0 now in Seattle as a quality secondary gets a major additional boost.

Seattle adds a blue-chip prospect to their pass defense to go along with outstanding 2022 rookie Tariq Woolen. This is a huge win for a defense that was reworked during the offseason. - – SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: B-

6. Cardinals (from DET via LAR): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

The Cardinals were rumored to be interested in taking Paris Johnson Jr. at Pick 3, so to be able to trade back up to Pick 6 to take him is a win. Johnson is a long and athletic tackle who can excel in pass protection.

The Cardinals desperately needed to improve their offensive line as they rebuild their roster. The team prioritized protecting its biggest asset in quarterback Kyler Murray with this pick. Arizona can plug Johnson into left tackle as a Day 1 starter. - FRANK AMMIRANTE

Grade: B

7. Raiders: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

The Raiders finished 30th in the NFL in sacks (27), even with Maxx Crosby on the roster but used their first pick to select the monster DE from Texas Tech.

Wilson — who is listed at 6-6, 275 pounds — had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2022 and should be a solid bookend pass-rushing option to Crosby. – PAT PICKENS

Grade: B+

8. Falcons: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

In a league that now devalues the running back, the Falcons still make the move for the clear best player at the position. Atlanta had other needs to fill, such as edge rusher and defensive back, and this pick may be questioned despite the tremendous talent of the player.

Robinson does project to be a major offensive piece for an offense that is fleshing out with a lot of promising talents. Demond Ridder will now be supported by Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Robinson. — SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: C+

NFL Draft Futures Bet: Bijan Robinson: Offensive Rookie of the Year (+450) • DraftKings Sportsbook

The grade is more of a real-life, “all football" review. Robinson still has the skill set to pile up yardage and touchdowns in an offense that will desperately need him to carry the load.

Robinson is ranked too closely among the quarterbacks, who have a rougher road ahead of them in the short term. Even this short juice is a comfortable value. — TIM HEANEY

@thegameday

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9. Eagles (from CHI via CAR): Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia

The Eagles move up a pick to snag a potential eye-popping value with another Georgia defender – a trend last year. GM Howie Roseman drafts a dynamic player – but a name who has had problems off the field this offseason.

Still, as Michael Rochman wrote in our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings (Carter ranked fifth), “Carter could’ve been in contention for the top spot at season’s end, but with his offseason, there are plenty of question marks. Teams should still love his talent though, and with a month until draft day, the worry will simmer down." Carter will rotate in as a game-breaker and eventually replace veteran future Hall of Famer Fletcher Cox. – TIM HEANEY

Grade: A-

10. Bears (from PHI via NO): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

The Bears moved down from Pick 9 to 10, acquiring a 2024 fourth-rounder to take the player they have been linked to throughout this process: Darnell Wright. The Tennessee offensive tackle is an absolute mauler who can be a difference-maker in the running game.

This is widely graded as a reach. Still, Chicago will likely remain one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL, even after acquiring wideout DJ Moore, so this is a seamless scheme and trench fit. – FRANK AMMIRANTE

Grade: B-

11. Titans: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

Former Eagle Andre Dillard and ex-49er Daniel Brunskill were signed as free agents, and Skoronski completes Tennessee’s quest to rework the offensive line. Skoronski was one of the elite offensive linemen in the draft and likely the best potential interior lineman available.

Skoronski should slot in at one of the guard spots for the Titans despite being listed as an offensive tackle. Tennessee is heavily focused on rebuilding its offense and Skoronski is a fine building block for the future. — SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: B+

12. Lions (from ARI via HOU & CLE): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Detroit traded back to chose a player it could have had later in the first round. Gibbs was a super running back at Alabama, posting more than 1,300 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.

This might mean the talented but injury-prone D’Andre Swift (or the newly signed David Montgomery?) could be cut or traded. Still, the decision to overlook defensive upgrades is a curious one. – PAT PICKENS

Grade: C-

17. Patriots (from PIT): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The Patriots struck with perhaps the steal of the first round, selecting the highest-rated cornerback after trading down with the Steelers earlier in the night.

The 6-foot-1 rangy playmaker and had four interceptions in his lone season at Oregon after transferring from Colorado. The former Duck should only improve a defense that ranked 17th in passing yards against (3,681) but posted the third-most INTs (19) in 2022. – PAT PICKENS

Grade: A-

20. Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

After focusing on defense with their first pick, the Seahawks get a needed third option for Geno Smith. He will complement Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf well and should be a frequent target on key passing downs.

The Seahawks add a necessary yards-after-catch type to upgrade the passing game. Their wide receiver trio will now be one of the most potent units in the league. – SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: B+

21. Chargers: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

The Bolts were widely thought to have been targeting pure speed. However, the 6-foot-3 playmaker provides ample burst after the catch and the frame of a potential red-zone complement to Keenan Allen (if he’s sticking around) and fellow towering snare Mike Williams.

While some concerns about Johnston’s upside remain (fundamentals come into question among the scouting community), Justin Herbert will welcome the opportunity to incorporate him into this system to diversify how they can push downfield. This pick deepens their receiving corps to allow them to compete with their divisional aerial opponents in the Chiefs and Broncos. - TIM HEANEY

Grade: B

22. Ravens: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

The Ravens locked up MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson before capping a successful day, especially on the offensive side of the ball, by taking Flowers to complement a trio of Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, and Odell Beckham Jr.

Flowers had 1,077 receiving yards in his senior season and was in the conversation for first receiver taken. But he ended up going to Baltimore, which finished with the third-fewest passing/receiving yards in football (3,202)

The BC grad’s burner profile should help elevate Lamar’s game — especially in the much more dynamic passing offense to be installed by new OC Todd Monken. – PAT PICKENS

Grade: A

23. Vikings: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Minnesota had some apparent needs on pass defense with top cornerbacks still available, yet the Vikings chose to nab a top complement for Justin Jefferson. Addison should fill an apparent need at the No. 2 WR spot for Minnesota.

Adam Thielen has moved on, and K.J. Osborn is more of a third-receiver type, so Addison is a natural fit. He is a dynamic 1-on-1 playmaker who can be explosive after the catch, and the Vikings may now have the best passing game in the NFC North. – SCOTT ENGEL

Grade: B

25. Bills (from JAX via NYG): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

The Bills made a splash by adding another high-end pass-catcher for Josh Allen with the selection of Dalton Kincaid. The former Utah star can be a stud tight end in the NFL. In fact, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranked him as his ninth overall player in the draft.

Kincaid is an elite receiving tight end with the ability to win downfield and make contested catches. The Bills definitely needed another option to take the load off Stefon Diggs, so this is a tremendous pick. — FRANK AMMIRANTE

Grade: B+

Watching Will Levis Was Difficult After Seeing This Video 😬

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Follow along Friday as our analysts find the best and worst picks for Day 2 👇